Are Bunions Limiting Your Activities and Lifestyle?
Bunions can be very painful. With each step, your entire body weight rests on that bunion. Ouch! A common misconception about a bunion is that it is an overgrowth of bone that can simply be “shaved off”. In reality, bunions are complex deformities caused by an unstable joint causing an internal deformity and leading to pain.
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Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction
Relief is here. Now, there’s a new, patented treatment for bunion correction – Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction. This exciting, new treatment option does more than simply remove “the bump”; it addresses your bunion in three dimensions to correct the root of the problem. Advanced fixation technology is used to secure the correction in place, allowing patients to walk within days of surgery.
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We wrote the book on Bunion Surgery
Drs. Paul & Mindi Dayton were instrumental in the research and development of three dimensional bunion correction.
Click here to see why Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction differs from traditional 2D surgery.
request an appointmentWhy Was Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction Developed?
For many people with bunions, traditional surgery has failed to get to the true source of the problem – a 3-dimensional deformity caused by an unstable joint. This is why many people who have had traditional surgery have had their bunions return. In fact, 1 in 3 patients have been left dissatisfied with their surgical outcome in the past and up to 70% of those treated have had their bunion return.
Traditional Approaches To Bunion Correction Have Been Ineffective
- 87% of bunions are misaligned in 3 dimensions
- 12X bunion is likely to come back if 3D problem is not addressed
- 1 in 3 patients are dissatisfied with traditional results
- up to 70% of bunion patients have their bunions return over time
Traditional Surgery Is A 2D Solution For A 3D Problem
Traditional bunion surgery has been limited to an incomplete, two-dimensional (2D) approach to correction; cutting the bone in half and pushing the top part over to reduce the appearance of the bump. This 2D “cut and shift” approach primarily addresses the bunion’s symptoms, not the root cause – the unstable foundational joint – leaving the bunion significantly more likely to come back to some degree.
Traditional 2D Surgery:
It’s like trying to fix The Leaning Tower of Pisa by cutting it and shifting it.
The bump is shaved:
Unstable foundation (The root of the problem is not corrected)
Top of bone is cut & shifted:
Unstable foundation (The root of the problem is not corrected)
How Does Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction Work?
Instead of cutting the bone in half and shifting the top part over, the patented Lapiplasty® Procedure uses specially-designed instrumentation to rotate the entire deviated bone back into its normal anatomical position, naturally straightening your toe; removing the “bump” and associated pain.
Innovative titanium plating technology permanently secures the unstable foundation, the root of your bunion problem. Most patients are able to walk within days of surgery. No cast is required; allowing patients to get back to the shoe wear of their choice and activities quickly.
Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction:
It’s like addressing the unstable foundation (root cause) by rotating it back into position and permanently securing it.
The entire bone is returned to normal 3D alignment:
Unstable joint
3D correction secures unstable foundation permanently:
Joint is permanently secured
What Does A Correction Look Like On X-Ray?
Normal Foot:
2D Traditional Surgery:
“Cut & Shift” approach leaves unstable joint
Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction:
Alignment is restored & unstable joint is permanently secured
Lapiplasty® Patented Titanium Plating Technology — Enabling Early Weight Bearing
The Lapiplasty® Procedure utilizes two low-profile (petite), anatomically-shaped titanium plates to permanently secure the unstable foundation of your corrected bunion. This provides buttressing on multiple planes and allows you to walk within days of surgery. Think of this in terms of how a basketball player might hold a basketball. When a player tightly grips the ball with both hands, the ball is held more securely than if only one hand is used. Unlike other surgical approaches, the Lapiplasty® Procedure utilizes two plates for this very reason – “Two plates are better than one”.
What Should I Expect In Terms Of Recovery?
The patented titanium plating technology used with the Lapiplasty® Procedure enables patients to bear weight on their foot early. The ability to do so can dramatically improve your recovery process, allowing you to walk up to 6-8 weeks earlier than with the more traditional Lapidus approach (which was previously the only option for addressing the unstable joint). Being able to walk in a surgical boot, as opposed to being completely non-weight bearing (in a cast with scooter or crutches) for 6- 8 weeks, means that you will be getting back to a better quality of life faster; may return to most occupations more quickly; and will be less inconvenienced by bunion surgery.
Lapiplasty 3D Correction
- No casting
- Weight-bearing within days
- 6 weeks walking in surgical boot
- At 6-8 weeks: back to tennis shoes
- Walking 6-8 weeks ahead of traditional surgery
Traditional Lapidus Surgery
- Casting, crutches, scooter
- Non weight-bearing
- 6 weeks completely off foot!
- At 6-8 weeks: walking in surgical boot
- At 12-16 weeks: back to tennis shoes
- 6-8 weeks behind Lapiplasty correction
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to recover from a Lapiplasty® Procedure?
Patients are typically walking within days of surgery. Patients can return to most occupations within days to a couple of weeks, wearing a surgical boot. Within six weeks, you can expect to be walking in comfortable shoes such as tennis shoes, however you should not plan on any high-impact activities for 3-4 months. Short shopping trips and leisurely strolls are examples of the types of activities that should be fine at this point. Around the 4-month mark post-op, you should be able to return to most activities and most shoe wear.
Can I wear fashionable shoes again?
The Lapiplasty® Procedure allows most patients to return to their desired shoes. Of course, some fashionable shoes can be painful (even with a normal foot!), so results can vary from person to person and shoe to shoe.
Can I play sports after the Lapiplasty® Procedure?
Yes, there are no permanent activity limitations after the Lapiplasty® Procedure. Most patients are able to return to most activities after the bones have completely healed at approximately 4 months.
Can the Lapiplasty® Procedure be performed on someone who has previously had traditional surgery?
Yes, the Lapiplasty® Procedure is an option that can be utilized by your doctor when a revision is required. Even if previously treated, patients can experience the same benefits from Lapiplasty® – with a permanently secured foundational joint this time around.
I’ve heard the term “reproducible” used when describing the Lapiplasty® Procedure. What does that mean?
“Reproducible” means that a procedure is easily repeatable with expected results. The Lapiplasty® Procedure utilizes precision, patented instrumentation designed to take the guesswork and “eyeballing” out of bunion surgery; helping ensure your surgeon can get reliable results over and over.
Can the Lapiplasty® Procedure be performed as an outpatient procedure & how long does it last?
Yes, Lapiplasty® surgeries are performed as outpatient procedures. Typically, the surgery will last just under an hour. If your doctor is performing any additional procedures at the same time, the surgery may take longer.